The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-02
THE BREAD OF LIFE.


In accordance with the ancient custom of
naturalization Joseph was given a significant
Egyptian name, Zaphnath-P aaneah, which,
according to Josephus and Rabbinical au-
thorities, signifed ''Revealer of Secrets" but
which, according to modern Psychologists,
may mean the "Sustainer of Life" Hence
"Bread of Life" according to Canon Cook
(Speaker's Commentary and others. To
complete his elevation and introduction into
the most influential circles of court society,
Joseph was married to daughter of the
priest of On-Heliopolis, the ancient Egypt
ian seat of learning. The priests were the
aristocratic caste of Egypt. Joseph was thus
qualified and buttressed for the prosecution
of the great work for which he had been APP
pointed by the king.
Joseph went over all the land, and by au-
thority of the king organized department
of the government for the collection, by a
levy of fifth and the preservation in royal
store houses, of the surplus product of the
country. For seven years, in accordance
with Joseph's Interpretation of Pharaoh's
dream, the land produced superintendent
harvests, and the provisional produce from
the fields adjacent or belopgingto every city
(including yiilages) were stored in the royal
granares therein provided, until the supply
was SO abundant as to become incalculable,
or till the quantity was no longer reckoned.
From these stores the furnishing people
were supplied during the seven years of scar.
city that followed the period of plenty. Jo-
seph thus became the "Bread of Life to
starving multitudes of Egyptian and neigh
people, no donbt, influenced by Joseph's ex-
ample, if not by his advice, who had made
abundant provision and were not wholly i'm
poverished by the long dearth. But the
masses may have been improvident. Abund-
ance makes waste, and waste makes want.
In the time of great prosperity few are
thoughtful enough to make wise provision
for the day of adversely. "Come easy, go
easy" well describes the popular economy.
1t is wise to provide for future need. The
cultivation of habits of industry aud frugal
ity should be included in the proper educa-
ton and training of the young.
In the Sunday-school especially it is wise
and prudent to remember, also, that ga
mans life CONSISTENT not in the abundance of
the things which he possesseth'' luke xii.
15), and that "Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word of truth spoken by
the mouth of COP" (Metthew iv. A.. The
soul has wants as well as the body. There
are heavenly treasures to be gathered as we'll
as earthly treasures. LAY up for yourselves
treasures in heaven" said JESUS (Matthew
vi. 20); and tWork for the meat which abid-
eth unto eternal life, rather than for the meat
which perisheth" John vi. 27). "The bread
of Con is that which cometh down out of
heaven and giveth life unto the worldn (John
vi. 32). Joseph was called "The Bread of.
Life" because he provided the furnishing
people of Egypt with food, JESUS called him
self 'the Bread of Life which came down out
of heaven to give life to the world'' (John vi.
48-5l). He taught the truth of GoD upon
which the soul may feed and live. In the
Gospel are garnered the heavenly stores to
feed the worlds furnishing spirits, without
money and without price. Joseph gave the
bread of physical life to the Egyptians; JESUS
brings to the world the bread of spiritual life.
"Evermore give US this Bread" should be
our daily prayer.